SALUTE: Dr Bhakti Yadav, first woman doctor from Indore receives Padma Shri Award at her home

INDORE: 91 year old Dr Bhakti Yadav, gynaecologist recently was conferred with a Padma Shri award by district collector P Narahari at her house.

Dr Bhakti, born on April 3, 1926 in Mahidpur town of Ujjain district, completed her primary education in Garoth town. She completed her school from Ahilya Ashram school in Indore, while staying with her uncle. Dr Bhakti completed her MBBS from MGM Medical College in 1948. She was the only woman in her batch.

She holds the honor of not only being the first woman from the city to have completed MBBS but also providing free treatment to the population of the city for the past 68 years.

Medical dialogues team earlier reported that this time, with the Padma Awards, Government of India announced the names of the unsung heroes who served for the country with their true spirit. Home ministry officials shortlisted Dr Bhakti Yadav along with the number of unsung heroes of the country.  Nonogenarian Bhakti Yadav, popularly known as "Doctor Dadi" from Indore is  the first woman from Indore to hold an MBBS degree.  She is still working at the age of 91.

Read also: In 2017, Padma Awards to honour unsung heroes of healthcare

District Collector P Narhari presented the citation and medal of the fourth highest civilian award in the country, to Dr Yadav (91), fondly called as Doctor Dadi, at her Scheme Number 114 residence. State Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya was also present. Dr Yadav could not attend the function organised in Delhi on April 13, where President Pranab Mukherjee gave away Padma awards to recipients.

Dr Bhakti has been treating patients free of cost for the past 68 years and has helped deliver thousands of babies. Pledging her services for the welfare of the society, she refused to work in government hospital and joined Nandlal Bhandari Maternity Home for wives of poor cloth mill workers. She headed the maternity home for several decades, before starting her nursing home, Vatsalya, in Pardeshipura area, reports TOI. Her free of cost treatment attracts patients from all not just far of areas in MP but also from Rajasthan and Gujrat.